I could use some advice and/or help please

J

JonMyersAviate

New Member
Got my dispatch license in October 2025 and can't seem to get hired on anywhere, and at this point I am pretty sure I have applied to most if not all companies that hire dispatchers.

I was an aircraft mechanic and an Air traffic Controller in the Marines, but I am not sure how that is being weighed on my applications. I have made it to a few second interviews and I knew the answers to the questions being asked but just can't seem to land a spot anywhere. I don't mind where I start in the pecking order, just that I can start somewhere.

I have attached my resume on here so if anyone has some advice, other than just keep applying because I am going to do that anyway, I would be most grateful.
 

Attachments

Have you applied to any regionals? I know a few are hiring right now and it’s your best bet to getting your foot through the door. Having ATC and aircraft mechanic experience in the military looks great on a resume. I know a lot of dispatchers with that background who start at a regional and see themselves at majors within a year or 2. I will say a lot of the interviewees are looking for specific answers to a lot of the dispatch questions and if you don’t answer it in a certain format it can disqualify you from the running unfortunately. Also, for some reason I can’t view your resume but a lot of people like clear and straight to the point resumes without the extra fluff (so it’s easier for them to read.) Only include the important details in your resume. They look at a bunch everyday and likely won’t look at yours if it’s too much.
 
Resume looks good. AA or PSA would be good bets. Where did you train for ADX?

Linkedin doesnt show for me
 
Your background is strong, but your resume reads more like a management professional transitioning careers than an entry-level Part 121 dispatcher candidate.

Right now, the emphasis is heavily on leadership, HR, and team growth — which are valuable — but airlines hiring dispatchers are primarily screening for operational control mindset, 14 CFR Part 121 knowledge, weather analysis, flight planning competency, and safety-driven decision-making.

I recommend:
• Lead with your FAA Aircraft Dispatcher Certificate at the top
• Reduce the management language and shorten non-aviation roles
• Expand aviation sections to highlight weather analysis, flight release preparation, fuel/alternate planning, NOTAM review, and regulatory compliance
• Use Part 121 terminology (121.533 joint responsibility, operational control, DRM, MEL familiarity)
• Emphasize high-tempo decision-making and safety culture over team size or business growth

Right now it shows you can lead people. It needs to show you can legally and safely release airplanes.

Tighten it around operations, safety, and regulatory precision — that’s what regional SOCs want to see.
 
I will unfortunately have to say, some if not most of these interviews are biased, a big portion of the new hires are people who know people, i've seen it in my company and in others where people compete with their instructors/seniors, etc yet they still get hired because ... well because they either have someone inside or know someone who knows someone !

even getting an interview comes down to that, "send me your resume via email" !
i've been salty about it for a while, but since there's nothing i can do, let them hire whoever they want, i must say i got lucky because i got in after the covid shortage
 
JonMyersAviate said:
Got my dispatch license in October 2025 and can't seem to get hired on anywhere, and at this point I am pretty sure I have applied to most if not all companies that hire dispatchers.

I was an aircraft mechanic and an Air traffic Controller in the Marines, but I am not sure how that is being weighed on my applications. I have made it to a few second interviews and I knew the answers to the questions being asked but just can't seem to land a spot anywhere. I don't mind where I start in the pecking order, just that I can start somewhere.

I have attached my resume on here so if anyone has some advice, other than just keep applying because I am going to do that anyway, I would be most grateful.
Click to expand...
Definitely agree with the advice above. You are missing dates on your resume. As someone who used to hire at an airline, that is a big scoring factor. If you don't provide dates, you can't get any points for experience level.
 
How does one get dispatch experience if you don't have dispatch experience? Other than taking a job at an airline throwing bags, how does one distinguish oneself if this is your first time entering the airline industry?
 
bravofoxtrothotel said:
Your background is strong, but your resume reads more like a management professional transitioning careers than an entry-level Part 121 dispatcher candidate.

Right now, the emphasis is heavily on leadership, HR, and team growth — which are valuable — but airlines hiring dispatchers are primarily screening for operational control mindset, 14 CFR Part 121 knowledge, weather analysis, flight planning competency, and safety-driven decision-making.

I recommend:
• Lead with your FAA Aircraft Dispatcher Certificate at the top
• Reduce the management language and shorten non-aviation roles
• Expand aviation sections to highlight weather analysis, flight release preparation, fuel/alternate planning, NOTAM review, and regulatory compliance
• Use Part 121 terminology (121.533 joint responsibility, operational control, DRM, MEL familiarity)
• Emphasize high-tempo decision-making and safety culture over team size or business growth

Right now it shows you can lead people. It needs to show you can legally and safely release airplanes.

Tighten it around operations, safety, and regulatory precision — that’s what regional SOCs want to see.
Click to expand...
Follow this advice and you will get an interview. Please use the correct terminology, you are a "certificated Aircraft Dispatcher." Dates will probably help, one thing that sticks out to me is how were you both an ATC Controller and a mechanic in the Marines?
 
Make the stories relatable if you keep non-aviation experience in the resume and/or interviews. How does this one time show your ability to prioritize, compartmentalize, communicate. As some have stated above, add dates and have the timelines down.
Other threads here have also noted the importance of reliability, and I feel personally it's important to have that in mind working at an SOC not necessarily local. Apply often at the regionals, and keep their parent company in mind once you're there. Majors vet from the regionals pretty often, and that could also (jokingly, partially...) answer the above question "how to get dispatch experience without having dispatch experience". Good luck!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top